A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 5 Test – School Memories: Recounting Academic & Social Experiences 5
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 5 Test – School Memories: Recounting Academic & Social Experiences
Test 1
Questions 25-30
For each question, write the correct answer. Write one word for each gap.
From: Jack
To: Leo
Hi Leo,
My first day at the new school was good, (25) ……………… I had a funny problem. I got lost while I was looking (26) ……………… the sports hall! The school is very big and has a lot (27) ……………… long corridors.
I didn't know where to go, (28) ……………… I asked a teacher for help. She was very nice and walked (29) ……………… me to the gym.
What time (30) ……………… your football practice finish today? We can walk home together.
See you later,
Jack
Answer Key & Explanations
25 but
– Why it's right: We use the conjunction but to connect two ideas that show a difference or contrast. Having a good day and having a problem are contrasting ideas.
– Why not 'so': So shows a result, which is incorrect because getting lost is not a result of having a good first day.
26 for
– Why it's right: We use the preposition for after the verb look when we are trying to find a person, place, or thing (look for).
– Why not 'at': We use look at when we point our eyes to watch or see something, but Jack is trying to find the hall.
27 of
– Why it's right: We use the preposition of to complete the very common phrase a lot of, which means a large number or amount.
– Why not 'many': Many also means a large number, but we never use the article a before the word many.
28 so
– Why it's right: We use so to show the result of a situation. The result of not knowing where to go is that Jack asked a teacher for help.
– Why not 'because': Because gives a reason for something, but here Jack is explaining the result of his problem.
29 with
– Why it's right: We use the preposition with to talk about doing an activity together or being in the company of another person.
– Why not 'by': We use by to talk about how we travel (like by bus), but we use with when we are joined by people.
30 does
– Why it's right: We use does as an auxiliary verb to ask a present simple question about a singular subject (your football practice).
– Why not 'is': We do not use is with base verbs like finish; we only use it with -ing verbs or adjectives.
Test 2
Questions 25-30
For each question, write the correct answer. Write one word for each gap.
From: Katie
To: Sarah
Hi Sarah,
How are you? I want to tell you about our school sports day. It was amazing! The best part was the relay race this afternoon. I ran in a team with three other girls. We ran fast, but one team was faster (25) ……………… us.
We finished in second place. I want (26) ……………… show our silver medal to you! We practiced every day (27) ……………… a whole week before the race.
My friends and I (28) ……………… going to run again next year. (29) ……………… you like running? Please write back and tell (30) ……………… about your favourite sports.
Katie
Answer Key & Explanations
25 than
– Why it's right: We always use "than" after comparative adjectives (like "faster" or "taller") to compare two things or groups of people.
– Why not 'then': "Then" is used to talk about time or what happens next, not for comparing things.
26 to
– Why it's right: After the verb "want", we use "to" plus the base verb ("to show") to talk about our wishes or plans.
– Why not 'for': We cannot put "for" directly before a verb like "show"; "for" must be followed by a noun or an "-ing" word.
27 for
– Why it's right: We use the preposition "for" to talk about a length or period of time, like "for a week" or "for two hours".
– Why not 'in': We use "in" to say when something happens (like "in the morning"), but not to measure how long an activity lasts.
28 are
– Why it's right: We use "are" because the subject is plural ("My friends and I", which means "we"), correctly completing the future form "are going to".
– Why not 'am': It is a common mistake to use "am" just because the word "I" is next to the gap, but the true subject is more than one person.
29 Do
– Why it's right: We use the helping verb "Do" to start a present simple question with the subject "you" and the base verb "like".
– Why not 'Are': We use "Are" if the next verb ends in "-ing" (like "Are you running?"), but "like" is a base verb.
30 me
– Why it's right: "Me" is an object pronoun that receives the action of the verb "tell" when someone is speaking about themselves.
– Why not 'I': "I" is a subject pronoun used to start a sentence, but here we need an object pronoun after the action verb.
Test 3
Questions 25-30
For each question, write the correct answer. Write one word for each gap.
From: Leo
To: Sam
Hi Sam,
I just finished reading the book for our English class. It is (25) ……………… best story I have read this year! The story is about a boy who travels to an island (26) ……………… boat. He meets (27) ……………… lot of interesting people there. The start of the book is sad, (28) ……………… the ending is very happy! I could not stop reading last night (29) ……………… it was so exciting. Did you finish it yet? I am going to return my copy to the school library (30) ……………… Friday. Let me know what you think!
See you,
Leo
Answer Key & Explanations
25 the
– Why it's right: We always use the definite article the before superlative adjectives like best, tallest, or most exciting.
– Why not 'a': We cannot use a with a superlative because there is only one best story, not many.
26 by
– Why it's right: We use the preposition by to talk about general types of transport, like by boat, by bus, or by car.
– Why not 'on': We can say on a boat, but if the word a is missing, we must use the fixed phrase by boat.
27 a
– Why it's right: We need the indefinite article a to complete the common phrase a lot of, which means a large number of people or things.
– Why not 'the': The phrase is always a lot of; we never say the lot of when talking about quantities.
28 but
– Why it's right: We use but to connect two contrasting or opposite ideas. The start of the book is sad, but the ending is happy.
– Why not 'so': We use so to introduce a result, not to show a contrast between two different ideas.
29 because
– Why it's right: We use because to explain the reason why something happened. Leo is explaining the reason why he could not stop reading.
– Why not 'so': We use so to talk about the result of an action, but here we need a word to introduce the reason.
30 on
– Why it's right: We always use the preposition on before specific days of the week, like on Friday or on Monday.
– Why not 'in': We use in for longer periods of time like months or years, but never for days of the week.